Renewed Push For Rail Link To Hyderabad Airport As MMTS Extension Gains Momentum From Umdanagar Station

As work on the Hyderabad Metro’s Phase-II project gathers momentum, a long-discussed proposal to extend the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) line from Umdanagar to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has resurfaced, touted as a cost-effective and practical solution to ease airport access, The New Indian Express reported.

The idea was first floated under MMTS Phase-II, with the South Central Railway (SCR) planning a seamless connection from Umdanagar to RGIA.

However, execution stalled after GMR authorities, despite negotiations, offered only three km of land, half the six km required for the link.

This shortfall meant that passengers would still face additional costs to complete their journey, rendering the Rs 85 crore proposal unviable.

“Despite repeated efforts by the then SCR general manager and several rounds of discussions with both the state government and GMR, the Rs 85-crore proposal for direct rail connectivity had to be shelved,” a railway official was quoted as saying.

Currently, Umdanagar station plays a vital role in connecting commuters to the airport, with 22 daily MMTS services and around 1,800–2,000 passengers passing through.

The station is undergoing a Rs 12.37 crore revamp under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to modernise facilities and improve the passenger experience.

Railway unions have now renewed their call for a dedicated rail link, pointing to models like Delhi, where electrified rail access to the airport has transformed urban mobility.

Advocates say such a link would provide Hyderabad with an affordable, eco-friendly alternative, reduce congestion on arterial roads, and integrate more effectively with the city’s public transport system.

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